In a major casting coup for their FX drama pilot American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have tapped Jessica Lange to star in a lead role opposite Friday Night Lights‘ Connie Britton. This marks the first foray into series television for the two-time Oscar winner.

The premise of American Horror Story is kept under wraps, but a breakdown for the pilot listed two main characters, Ben Harmon, a sensitive therapist, and Vivien Harmon (Britton), his gorgeous wife who is a force to be reckoned with. Lange will play their nosy neighbor.

Murphy and Falchuk are now rewriting the script to expand the role for Lange, turning it into a full-fledged third lead. The cast also includes Denis O’Hare as Larry the burn guy.

Murphy is set to direct the pilot, from 20th Century Fox TV, which will start production later this month, after Murphy and Falchuk wrap production on Glee. Murphy and Falchuk are executive producing American Horror Story with Dante Di Loreto. FX was already high on the pilot, with president John Landgraf saying that he was targeting it for a fall series launch. Getting a marquee name like Lange in addition to Britton is sure to further boost the projects’ chances for a series order.